Question
Dear Kate,
Right now, we are in the stage of planning where we are looking for a florist, and subsequently ideas for centerpieces and bouquets, and we're also beginning to look for invitations. Do you have any advice on how to ensure green centerpieces, bouquets and invitations? Thanks so much!
B'Shalom,
Gail
Answer
Hi Gail,
First, if you have not already, I recommend taking a look in the interactive look book. There you can find hundreds of links to vendors that offer environmentally friendly invitations, flowers and centerpieces. If you are crafty and want to make invitations I also recommend looking in the DIY section.
If you want to use local flowers, you can check local harvest to find growers, or call around and see if any of the florists in your area are able to use local, seasonal and organic blooms. For centerpieces consider potted plants, or baskets of sustainable goods.
Finally, to answer your general question - the best way to avoid "greenwashing" and to find reliable eco-friendly products is to rely on certifying agencies (e.g. USDA organic food, FSC certified wood products, or Fair Trade Certified favors). When dealing with local companies or vendors I think the easiest way to tell if they are green is to just ask questions. Ask potential florists where they source their flowers from, whether they can avoid using disposable florist tape and foam, and if they can donate the flowers for you after the celebration. Ask caterers where they get their meat, what they do with empty can and bottles, and whether they can compost or donate leftovers. In my experience, companies and people who are committed to being green will be eager to talk about these details - while companies that are hoping to sneak through with an eco-sounding name will try to change the topic quickly. Go with the gut.
That said, if you have a particular theme or item in mind and want specific suggestions please let me know - I am more than happy to help!
Mazel tov to your family and all the best,
Kate
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
MAZON - The Jewish Response to Hunger
MAZON is an amazing organization through which "tens of thousands of American Jews...have stepped forward to solve one of the world’s most devastating – and most preventable – problems" - namely HUNGER.
One of MAZON's missions is to bring awareness of poverty and hunger to Jewish life cycle events, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations.
As they write on their Bar/Bat Mitzvah Page:
"Your bar or bat mitzvah day is one of the few that will stay with you all of your life. Our Jewish tradition tells us to mark special occasions by celebrating with family and friends, in part so that these memorable days will remain with us forever.
An accompanying tradition teaches us to deepen our happiness by sharing our joyous celebrations with people in need. It is especially appropriate to do so on the day of a bar/bat mitzvah, when a child becomes an adult and accepts responsibility for fulfilling the mitzvah of tzedakah.
On the day of your bar/bat mitzvah, millions of children in America and around the world will go hungry, as they do every day. Taken together, these two things (the tragedy of hunger and the happiness of a bar/bat mitzvah) represent the joy and sorrow of life. Both deserve your family's attention...Make this day even more special by providing food and other help, through MAZON, to poor families everywhere. You will enrich their lives —and your own. "
To honor the joys and responsibilities associated with this sacred right of passage, MAZON suggests giving 3% of the cost of your celebration to help fight hunger.
As with any donation you make in honor of your bar or bat mitzvah be sure to tell your guests about your eco-friendly and humanitarian choices. Mazon offers a few "unobtrusive ways to tell your guests that you’re sharing your bar/bat mitzvah with those in need" including:
1. Putting the information on the table cards (my husband and I used this technique for our wedding - you can see a picture by clicking here)
2. Giving certificates to honor your rabbi, cantor, friends or relatives.
3. Putting In lieu of Gift cards in your invitations so guests can make a contribution in your honor.
(You can find hyperlinked samples of all of the above by clicking here).
They also offer a model bar/bat mitzvah speech that incorporates their anti-hunger message - which is good news for any bar or bat mitzvah struggling to find the right words to inspire the congregation!
You can take the MAZON message one step further by doing what a friend of mine at his Bar Mitzvah - create centerpieces with baskets of canned goods and donate them to a local food bank after the event. Perhaps you can even make a large sculpture on the dance floor like these amazing creation from the 15th Annual Design/Build Competition Awards Gala in New York
Finally, see if your caterer can donate leftover food to one of the many Second Harvest locations.
One of MAZON's missions is to bring awareness of poverty and hunger to Jewish life cycle events, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations.
As they write on their Bar/Bat Mitzvah Page:
"Your bar or bat mitzvah day is one of the few that will stay with you all of your life. Our Jewish tradition tells us to mark special occasions by celebrating with family and friends, in part so that these memorable days will remain with us forever.
An accompanying tradition teaches us to deepen our happiness by sharing our joyous celebrations with people in need. It is especially appropriate to do so on the day of a bar/bat mitzvah, when a child becomes an adult and accepts responsibility for fulfilling the mitzvah of tzedakah.
On the day of your bar/bat mitzvah, millions of children in America and around the world will go hungry, as they do every day. Taken together, these two things (the tragedy of hunger and the happiness of a bar/bat mitzvah) represent the joy and sorrow of life. Both deserve your family's attention...Make this day even more special by providing food and other help, through MAZON, to poor families everywhere. You will enrich their lives —and your own. "
To honor the joys and responsibilities associated with this sacred right of passage, MAZON suggests giving 3% of the cost of your celebration to help fight hunger.
As with any donation you make in honor of your bar or bat mitzvah be sure to tell your guests about your eco-friendly and humanitarian choices. Mazon offers a few "unobtrusive ways to tell your guests that you’re sharing your bar/bat mitzvah with those in need" including:
1. Putting the information on the table cards (my husband and I used this technique for our wedding - you can see a picture by clicking here)
2. Giving certificates to honor your rabbi, cantor, friends or relatives.
3. Putting In lieu of Gift cards in your invitations so guests can make a contribution in your honor.
(You can find hyperlinked samples of all of the above by clicking here).
They also offer a model bar/bat mitzvah speech that incorporates their anti-hunger message - which is good news for any bar or bat mitzvah struggling to find the right words to inspire the congregation!
You can take the MAZON message one step further by doing what a friend of mine at his Bar Mitzvah - create centerpieces with baskets of canned goods and donate them to a local food bank after the event. Perhaps you can even make a large sculpture on the dance floor like these amazing creation from the 15th Annual Design/Build Competition Awards Gala in New York
Finally, see if your caterer can donate leftover food to one of the many Second Harvest locations.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Donate Your Flowers
Question:
Hi Kate, I would like to know about how to find a service that will pick up flowers and take them to nursing homes or hospitals.
Answer:
As far as I know there are no groups or service providers out there who do this (if anyone reading this knows of one please comment below!). However, you still have a few options.
First, if you are having your reception at the synagog, see if they want to use your flowers to decorate the beema for the coming week.
Second, it is not uncommon for florists to take on the role of post-party clean up and organization. If you have not signed a florist contract yet, or even if you have, see if your florist is willing to pick up and deliver the flowers to a worthy cause. Many florists already have relationships with charities and deliver leftover flowers as a matter of course.
Alternatively you can ask a friend or relative to take on the task. Make a few phone calls (or ask your friend or family member to make the calls) to hospitals, nursing homes, and other charities in the area and see if they are willing to accept flower donations so you/they can make the proper arrangements (no pun intended).
I hope you will come back and let us know what you were able to work out (and share pictures of the flowers you used!)
Mazel tov and all the best,
Kate
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